Meals From the Heartland
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEVELOP AND CARRY OUT A COMREHENSIVE PLAN TO PROVIDE MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD. THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS WILL BE TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO PREPARE PACKAGED FOOD PACKETS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE HUNGRY AROUND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 60,854
- Highest pay
- $86,728, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $2.5 million spent. MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND IS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO SAVE STARVING CHILDREN. ONE HALF OF THIS MISSION INVOLVES THE FOOD THAT IS PACKAGED YEAR AROUND IN VOLUNTEER EVENTS. THE OTHER HALF OF THIS MISSION IS TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS BY PROVIDING A POSITIVE TEAM AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPERIENCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THESE EVENTS. THESE EVENTS WERE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT IOWA AS WELL AS AT OUR OWN LOCATION. DURING 2024, APPROXIMATELY 52 THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS AND PREPARED OVER 19 MILLION MEALS. MEALS ARE SHIPPED OUT NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY BY OUR DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS TO ON-THE-GROUND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CONTINUALLY ASSESSING AND IDENTIFYING NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES. MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND IS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO SAVE STARVING CHILDREN. ONE HALF OF THIS MISSION INVOLVES THE FOOD THAT IS PACKAGED YEAR AROUND IN VOLUNTEER EVENTS. THE OTHER HALF OF THIS MISSION IS TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS BY PROVIDING A POSITIVE TEAM AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPERIENCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THESE EVENTS. THESE EVENTS WERE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT IOWA AS WELL AS AT OUR OWN LOCATION. DURING 2024, APPROXIMATELY 52 THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS AND PREPARED OVER 19 MILLION MEALS. MEALS ARE SHIPPED OUT NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY BY OUR DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS TO ON-THE-GROUND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CONTINUALLY ASSESSING AND IDENTIFYING NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.